Server-only: This tool is included in the Windows 2000 Server Resource Kit only.
This application-layer monitoring system integrates with Network Load Balancing clustering technology, previously known as Windows Load Balancing Server (WLBS). ClusterSentinel monitors the health of servers and uses the testing results to determine when servers are available. When a server fails the tests, ClusterSentinel removes it from cluster activity, while continuing to monitor it. When the server passes the tests, ClusterSentinel adds the server back to the cluster. This release of ClusterSentinel supports Chat, SMTP, HTTP, SQL and a generic port-connect monitor.
ClusterSentinel improves the availability of services by measuring them at the application layer. Currently, many tools are available in the marketplace to monitor the health of services to varying degrees. ClusterSentinel combines this functionality to provide operations personnel with a single access point for application and cluster-level information needed to troubleshoot a problem.
Improving availability requires the means to take corrective actions when testing indicates an error condition. ClusterSentinel achieves this by integrating with Network Load Balancing for control of cluster membership. Network Load Balancing provides seamless fault tolerance in the case of server or network failures. Although application failures can be masked through manual intervention by issuing a command to remove the failing server from cluster participation, this process takes seconds to complete. When manual intervention is not forthcoming, the network is left exposed to faults occurring at the port and application level. This is where ClusterSentinel comes in.
ClusterSentinel and Network Load Balancing work together to enable cluster-level monitoring and control. Through monitoring, the tool can track changes in cluster membership and the cluster-level state of the members. Then ClusterSentinel can use application-level monitoring results to decide when to add and remove servers from active cluster participation. By committing this information to a persistent store, the tool provides the information needed to track a server's availability over time.
ClusterSentinel can be deployed on Microsoft® Windows® 2000 or Microsoft® Windows NT® version 4.0 with Service Pack 5 or later.
Detailed information on how to configure, administer and troubleshoot ClusterSentinel can be found in ClusterSentinelUsersGuide.doc, in the \apps\ClusterSentinel\Docs folder of the Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Resource Kit companion CD.
Files Required
The files required for ClusterSentinel are located in the \apps\ClusterSentinel folder of the Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Resource Kit companion CD.
ClusterSentinel is not installed by the Resource Kit setup program. You must install it separately. For information on how to install this tool, see ClusterSentinelUsersGuide.doc in the \Docs sub-directory of the \apps\ClusterSentinel folder.